Stuck In A 'Zombie' Marriage? 8 Ways To Resuscitate Your Love

Does your relationship feel like 'The Walking Dead?' Try these tips to bring it back to life.

I was chatting with a client the other day about creating couplehood rituals—like binge-watching The Walking Dead on lazy weekends—when she said, "I don't need to watch zombies. My husband and I live like zombies. Our marriage is The Walking Dead." Sad laugh.

Unfortunately, just as the number of undead continue to rise every Sunday evening on AMC, so, too, does the number of "living dead" marriages. I see them all the time in my practice, Marriage SOS.

If you're in one, you know the signs: apathy, routine, familiarity, empty interactions, irritability, indifference and sexlessness. You don't actively dislike each other—you've just kind of stopped showing up.

If this sounds familiar to you, don't run away (or aim for the head) just yet. Instead, try these 8 tips to see whether they can bring your zombie relationship back to life.

1. Be appreciative.

Show appreciation for all that your partner does, especially those things that often go unnoticed. Praise him or her in front of your children.

Flip through old photo albums of your early days together or your children as babies. Use Google maps/street view to take a virtual walk down memory lane and revisit the places where you used to live or vacation. A couple who has a strong sense of where they've been usually has a strong sense of where they're going.

ALSO: It's important to perform regular "safety checks" to make sure the fortress you've built around your marriage remains strong. Fix the weak spots BEFORE trouble gets through. If you can do that, your marriage will stay vibrant and full of life.